High Temperature Materials for Hypersonic Radomes and Antennas

Successful completion of this Phase II proposal will fully characterize and evaluate a material for use in RF windows on hypersonic flight vehicles. Phase II will specifically examine the materials suitability through RF testing in X, Ku, and Ka bands and at elevated temperatures to 2000°F. The desired outcome will be a material with predictable, repeatable dielectric properties over frequency and temperature ideally with a dielectric constant of 5 or lower. If the material meets program requirements it may find use as a radome, conformal antenna, or RF window on board expendable hypersonic flight vehicles. Other commercial applications for extreme environment RF materials may include space-based phased arrays, sensors aboard commercial launch vehicles, aircraft, or missiles, and other communication devices with elevated temperature requirements.